Collapsible self-supporting hammock

ABSTRACT

The hammock frame is comprised of bent stock tubular members and angle iron members welded together to provide a base structure comprising end-to-end hinged base members to the outer ends of which are swingably journaled hammock support members. The hammock support members are foldable against their respective base members and the base members are foldable against themselves to provide a doubly folded compact unit. When erected, the central part of the base structure is somewhat elevated above the support floor to allow for flexing and resultant resilient inward yielding of the hammock support members.

United States Patent [72] inventor Harry J. Britt 157 N. E. 68thTerrace, Miami, Fla. 33138 [21] Appl. No. 795,178 [22] Filed Jan.30,1969 [45] Patented July 20,1971

[54] COLLAPSIBLE SELF-SUPPORTING HAMMOCK 1' Claim, 6 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 5/127, 5/129. 5/176 [51] Int. Cl A451 3/24 [50] FieldofSearch 5/127, 174, 175,l76,l77,178,179,128,120,154,129; 248/88.1,88.8,436; 16/135 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,663,03212/1953 Giuseffi 5/154 2,566,996 9/1951 Scheld 5/129 2,534,019 12/1950Griswold 5/129 950,070 2/1910 Funke 5/129 781,609 1/1905 Lawson 5/127223,588 1/1880 Hicks 5/129 Primary ExaminerBobby R. Gay I AssistantExaminer- Peter A. Aschenbrenner Attorney-Ernest H. SchmidtPATENTEDJUL209Y| I 3,593,352

SHEET 1 UF 2 I M g-15 Ea FIGZ INVENTOR HARRYJBRITT PATENTEnJuLzolsnSHEET 2 UP 2 I/VVENTOI? HARRY J. BRITT COLLAPSIBLE SELF-SUPPORTINGHAMMOCK This invention relates to hammocks and is directed particularlyto a novel and improved collapsible self-supporting hammock.

Various types of foldable stands or supporting structures for holding ahammock member in outstretched position for use have heretofore beendevised. Such foldable or collapsible stands heretofore known, however,have been deficient in several respects, among which the following:their complexity, their lack of strength and resiliency, their lack ofsimple means for adjustment of the stretch of-the hammock, their costlyuse of specially fabricated parts, and their bulkiness when in collapsedor folded condition.

It is, accordingly, the principal object of this invention to provide animproved collapsible, self-supporting hammock that obviates theabove-described deficiencies.

A more particular object is to provide a collapsible, selfsupportinghammock wherein the supporting framework is fabricated of stock metaltubular and angle iron parts and miscellaneous common hardware items forstrength and economy of manufacture, the framework comprising a pair ofbase members centrally hinged and having, swingably mounted at theirouter ends, upwardly extensible hammock support members, the hammocksupport members being foldable down against their respective basemembers, and the base members being foldable double against themselvesto provide a compact unit for easy storage and portability.

Another object is to provide an improved collapsible hammock stand ofthe character above described wherein the framework base members, whenextended for use, have their central portions elevated above thesupporting surface to permit flexing in the downward direction andthereby to provide resiliency in the upwardly extending hammock supportmembers for increased comfort of the hammock user without the provisionof coil springs inthe hammock member attachment chains.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparentfrom the following description when read with reference to theaccompanying drawings. In the drawings,

wherein like reference numerals denote corresponding parts throughoutthe several views:

FIG. 1 illustrates, in perspective, a preferred form of collapsibleself-supporting hammock embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 isa side elevational view of the hammock, on an en-' largedscale;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the hammock-supporting framework infully collapsed orfolded condition for transport or storage;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the hammock-support be constructed,for the most part, of tubular and angle iron steel stock, (although itcould also be made of extruded aluminum members), comprises opposed,relatively foldable base members 37 of heavy gage, tubular stock bentinto elongated U-shape by semicircularly curved outer end portions 12extending into spaced, parallel, side arm portions 11, 11 at each side.The inner ends of the side arm portions 11, 11 at each side of theframework are welded, along side portions thereof, against thehorizontal inner face 13 of a length of angle iron 14, near the oppositeends thereof, the terminal edges of said side arm portions being weldedagainst the vertical inner faces 15. A pair of spaced hinges 16 havetheir hinge leaves 17, 17 welded against the outsides of the horizontalinner faces 13 of the angle irons 14 (see FIG. 6) near the outer endsthereof (see FIG. 3) to permit folding together of said base members asillustrated and as is hereinbelow more particularly described. As isbest illustrated in FIG. 2, the side arm portion 11, ll of each of thebase members 37 is welded at a slight angle in theseats of theirrespective angle iron members 14 so that when u folded, the hinges 16are at their limit positions as determined by the abutment of the outervertical faces of the angle iron members l4, l4.

Transverse tubular feet l8, 18 are welded against the underside of thebase members 37 near the outer ends of the side arm portions ll, 11thereof and just beyond the curved outer end portions 12. As isillustrated best in FIG. 3, one of the tubular feet 18 is arrangedsomewhat nearer the outer end of the supporting framework than theother, so that said feet will lie side by side when said framework isfolded or collapsed. It will be noted that the feet 18 serve to furtherelevate the already slightly elevated central zone of the framework, ascan best be seen in FIG. 2, to enhance the resiliency of the frameworkin use, as is hereinbelow more particularly described.

As is best illustrated in FIG. 5, strengthening tubular members l9, 19are provided in each of the opposed, foldable base members 37 of theframework,. being disposed in spaced, parallel relation between the sidearm portions 11, 11 thereof. The inner ends of the strengthening members19, 19 are flattened along upper portions thereof, whereat they arewelded against the horizontal inner faces 13 of their respective angleiron members 14, so that the undersides of the inner ends of saidstrengthening members are displaced, for the most part, beneath saidangle iron members, (see FIG. 6).

Upwardly extensible hammock'support members 38 of tubing bentsubstantially into U-shape and defined by slightly divergent, opposedhammock arm members 20, 20 extending outwardly of an arcuate end portion21, have the outer ends of said arm members journaled between the basemember side arm portions 11, 11 near the outer ends thereof in thevicinity of the tubular feet 18, 18. The hammock support members 38 areeachswingably journaled with respect to their associated base members 37by means of journal rods 22 entending through'transverse openings in-theside arm portions 11, 11 and the hammock arm members 20, 20, saidjournal rods preferably being welded to said side arm portions at theirouter ends to retain them in place. As is best illustrated in FIGS. 4and 5, the outer ends of the strengthening tubular members l9, 19 aresecured, as by welding, against upper central portions of theirassociated feet 18, 18,and provide additional support for the journalrods 22 by the passage of said rods through transverse openings therein.

Means are provided for adjustably securing the hammock support member 38in their substantially upright positions for supporting the hammockmember B therebetween. To this end, lower and upper turnbuckle rods 25,26, respectively, ad

justably joined by a turnbuckle nut 27, are provided at each end of thesupporting framework, the upper turnbuckle rod 26 being formed at itsouter end with a collar 28 circumjacent the arcuate end portion 21 of itassociated, upwardly extensible hammock support member 38 at a centralportion thereof and constrained thereat against sideward movement as byweldedon abutment bosses 28, 29, at each side. The outer ends of thelower turnbuckle rod 25 are each formed with circular eyes 30 adapted toengage with a hook pin 31 welded to and extending 'angularly outwardlyand sidewardly of the outer ends of the It will be understood that thesupporting framework, when in collapsed condition as is illustrated inFIG. 3, will be most compact for easy portability and storage. With theuse of one inch tubular stock, total thickness will be only slightlygreater than three inches. In setting the framework up for use, it willfirst be unfolded to the position illustrated in FIG. 4, as hereinabovedescribed, after which the hammock support members 38 will be swungupwardly to their positions as illustrated in FIG. 5 and retainedthereat by engaging the eyes 30 of their respective lower turnbucklerods 25 on their associated hook pins 31.

The hammock member B, which is preferably of muslin, canvas or duck, isprovided with the usual hemmed spreader rods 33 at each end, the ends ofeach of which rods are fitted with support chains 34, all of equallength and having hooks 35 at their outer ends adapted to engage inpairs of hook openings 36 in each of the hammock support members 38,said openings being provided in the arcuate end portions 21, thereof. Inuse, after the hammock member B is hooked in place on the framework asillustrated in FIG. 1 the turnbuckle nuts 27 at each end will be turnedto shorten the turnbuckles, thereby correspondingly separating thehammock support members 38 at each end to stretch the hammock member Bin place to the desired degree ofcomfort for the user.

It will be understood that as weight or change in weight is applied tothe hammock structure by the user, forces tending to pull the outer endsof the hammock support members 38 together will be transmitted to theunfolded base members 37 which, because of their elevated inner limitpositions as determined by their hinge connection, act in unison as aleaf spring, thereby affording a high degree of resiliency in a strongstructure.

While I have illustrated and described herein only one form in which myinvention can conveniently be embodied in practice, it is to beunderstood that this form is given by way of example only, and not in alimiting sense. The invention, in brief, comprises all the embodimentsand modifications coming within the scope and spirit of the followingclaims:

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A collapsible self-supporting hammock comprising, in combination, apair of elongated base members, hinge means swingably interconnectinginner end portions of said base members to permit relative movementbetween spread-apart and face-to-face limit positions, a pair ofelongated hammock support members, means swingably interconnecting theinner end each of said hammock support members to outer end portions ofsaid base members for movement between outstretched and relativelyinwardly folded positions, turnbuckle rod mechanisms interconnecting theouter ends of said hammock support members with the outer ends of theirrespective base members for adjustably securing said hammock supportmembers in their outstretched positions, said hammock support members,when in their inwardly folded positions, lying against one side of theirrespective base members, said base members, when in their face-to-facelimit positions, being face to face with respect to their other sides,said base members comprising tubular metal members bent into U-shape todefine closed, arcuate outer end portions and open, spacedapart innerfree end portions, and said hammock support members comprising tubularmetal members bent substantially into U-shape, the free ends of saidhammock support tubular members being swingably journaled to endportions of their respective base members just beyond their arcuateportions by means of a transverse journal rod, said other sides of saidbase members, when said base members are in their spread-apart limitpositions, meeting at an angle slightly less than degrees, said basemembers swingably interconnecting means comprising a pair of angle ironmembers one for each of said base members, the inner free ends of saidbase tubular members being welded into the channel recesses of theirrespective angle iron members, and hinge means welded between outerfaces of said angle iron members.

1. A collapsible self-supporting hammock comprising, in combination, apair of elongated base members, hinge means swingably interconnectinginner end portions of said base members to permit relative movementbetween spread-apart and face-to-face limit positions, a Pair ofelongated hammock support members, means swingably interconnecting theinner end each of said hammock support members to outer end portions ofsaid base members for movement between outstretched and relativelyinwardly folded positions, turnbuckle rod mechanisms interconnecting theouter ends of said hammock support members with the outer ends of theirrespective base members for adjustably securing said hammock supportmembers in their outstretched positions, said hammock support members,when in their inwardly folded positions, lying against one side of theirrespective base members, said base members, when in their face-to-facelimit positions, being face to face with respect to their other sides,said base members comprising tubular metal members bent into U-shape todefine closed, arcuate outer end portions and open, spaced-apart innerfree end portions, and said hammock support members comprising tubularmetal members bent substantially into U-shape, the free ends of saidhammock support tubular members being swingably journaled to endportions of their respective base members just beyond their arcuateportions by means of a transverse journal rod, said other sides of saidbase members, when said base members are in their spread-apart limitpositions, meeting at an angle slightly less than 180 degrees, said basemembers swingably interconnecting means comprising a pair of angle ironmembers one for each of said base members, the inner free ends of saidbase tubular members being welded into the channel recesses of theirrespective angle iron members, and hinge means welded between outerfaces of said angle iron members.